Choosing the right boxing equipment is essential to optimize performance in competitions and training, and to ensure safety for yourself and your gym partners.

There are many brands and models of boxing gloves on the market, each with different characteristics. Even the most experienced boxer might find it difficult to navigate the numerous glove options available. At Combat Arena, you can find over 300 different models of gloves.

Boxing gloves are the hand protection that boxers use in training and during competitions. They must meet three fundamental aspects:
1. The characteristics of the boxer who will wear them: experience, weight, gender, age, hand size
2. The intended use: competition, bag training, sparring
3. The available budget.

In this guide, we will distinguish three fundamental types of boxing gloves: competition gloves, sparring gloves, and bag gloves. To protect oneself and training partners and to maintain the integrity of the gloves over time, a boxer should have at least one pair of each type in their bag.

Characteristics of Gloves

Before delving into the three types of gloves, let's analyze some very important characteristics that will help us choose the right pair of gloves.
Size and Weight: The size and weight of gloves are measured in ounces (oz). Typical sizes range from 8 oz to 20 oz. Each pair of gloves will have a label showing the weight, e.g., 10 oz corresponds to approximately 284 grams. The choice depends on the intended use: lighter gloves are suitable for competitions, while heavier ones are ideal for training and sparring.
Materials: Gloves can be made of leather or synthetic materials. Leather is more durable and offers superior comfort, while synthetic materials are cheaper but less durable.
Closure: Gloves can have a velcro or lace-up closure. Velcro closure is convenient and quick to use, ideal for daily training. Lace-up closure offers a more secure and tight fit and provides greater wrist support.

Types of Boxing Gloves

Competition Gloves

These gloves are used in official matches and are regulated by boxing federations. They are lighter than other types of gloves (typically 8 or 10 oz), allowing for faster and more powerful punches. The amount of padding is less, which allows for more direct contact and greater impact.

Sparring Gloves

Used in sparring sessions, these gloves are designed to protect both the wearer and the training partner. They have softer and thicker padding to better absorb impacts and reduce the risk of injuries during contact. Additionally, their structure is designed to ensure greater safety. They range from a minimum of 12 oz (approximately 340 grams) to a maximum of 18 oz (510 grams). The higher the number of ounces, the larger the glove surface, the amount of padding, and consequently the weight. The fit becomes slightly larger as the ounces increase. For safe training, we recommend 12 oz gloves for those weighing up to 70 kg, 14 oz gloves for those between 70 kg and 80 kg, 16 oz gloves for those between 80 kg and 90 kg. For those weighing more than 90 kg, we recommend 18 oz gloves.

Bag Gloves

These gloves are specifically designed for bag training. They have harder padding to withstand repeated punches and protect the hands from constant impact with the bag. The rigid padding helps to develop punch power and improve technique. Due to their rigidity, we do not recommend using them in sparring training. Within this category, we can distinguish between traditional bag gloves and modern bag gloves. Traditional bag gloves weigh 6 oz and do not protect the thumb. Recently, bag gloves very similar to sparring gloves have been introduced. They weigh 10 or 12 oz and offer more protection for the knuckles.

Brands and Prices of Gloves

Once you have reviewed all the characteristics mentioned so far, you will be able to choose your gloves. Now only the price and brand remain. Faux leather gloves can cost between €30 and €50. Leather gloves range from €50 to over €200-300. As the price increases, so do the quality of materials and the refinement of workmanship (cutting, stitching). There are many brands on the market: Cleto Reyes, Rival Boxing, Fairtex, Venum, Adidas, Leone 1947, Twins Special. From our experience, we notice that gloves in similar price ranges have fairly similar objective characteristics across all these brands. The subjective factors that make one choose one brand over another are aesthetics and fit comfort.
Our tips will help you, but they are not enough. To choose the perfect gloves, rely on the advice of your instructor, your companions, and your experience.

Other Types of Gloves

We conclude this article by listing other types of gloves you might find in physical and online stores, but which you will not need if you practice boxing.

Open-Hand Gloves

These are the gloves used in Point Fighting or Semi Contact specialties. All five fingers are fully covered and padded. The main feature is the reduced volume and the fact that the palm is exposed.
The main federations require that the padding between the thumb and the other fingers be sewn with a tab. Some latex models, lacking this feature, may not be usable in some official competitions.

MMA and Grappling Gloves

These are the lightest gloves, weighing between 4 and 8 ounces. Only the knuckles are covered and padded, while the fingers are unprotected, allowing the athlete to perform grappling maneuvers, such as submissions, clinch, and throws. In training, it is advisable to use them only when practicing these techniques, while during sparring or when training arm punches (jabs, hooks, and uppercuts), it is recommended to use gloves of 10 ounces or more.

Karate/Kumite and Fit Boxe Gloves

These gloves have padded knuckles and free fingers, used in the kumite specialty, allowing the athlete to grab the opponent to throw or sweep them. Unlike open-hand gloves, the thumb is completely exposed, while the other fingers are covered and padded only at the knuckles. These gloves can also be used in fit boxe classes.

We hope this guide has helped you understand which gloves are best suited to your needs. For more information or personalized advice, do not hesitate to contact us.